Fire-escape truck



(No Model.) 4 Sheet'Sheet 1.

E. CARDARELLI. FIRE ESCAPE TRUCK,-

No. 516,346. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

(No Mom)- 4 sheets- 11861; 2.

' E.GARDARELLL FIRE ESCAPE TRUCK.

No. 516,346. Patented Mar. 1s, 1894.

ml NAmIuL mnowmun GOUPANV. UIAMINGI'OII. D. O.

(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet a.

E. GARDARELLI.

FIRE ESCAPE TRUCK.

No. 516,346. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

NITED 1 STATES ATENT FFICFE.

EMILIO OARDARELLI, OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FIRE-ESCAPE TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 516,346, dated March 13,1894.

Applicati n fi April I 1893. Serial No. 468,730. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, EMILIO CARDARELLI, a c tizen of the United States,residing at Sumter, 1n the county of Sumter and State of South Carolina,have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape Truck, of which the followinga specification.

This invention relates to fire escape trucks; and 1t has for its objectto provide certain lmprovements upon the fire escape truck described andclaimed by me in my pending application, filed November 30, 1892, andbearing Serial No. 453,675.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is toprovide an improved portable fire escape truck having everyqualification for ready adjustment into a proper operative position andcarrying all necessary auxiliaries for fire escape purposes. With theseand many other objects in view which will readily appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combinatlon and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated and claimed. In the accompanyingdrawings:-Figure 1 1s a side elevation of my improved fire escape truckshowing the combined track and ladder sections extended for use, and thelevcling device in position under one pair of wheels. Fig. 2 is anendview of the fire escape truck showing the arts extended for use, theextreme upper-end of. the combined track andladder section'not showing.Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus. Fig.4 is an enlarged detail View showing more clearly the removableconnection of the extensible bracing ladder to the horizontallyadjustable brace frame. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional viewofthe lock connection between the sliding track and ladder sectionswhenextended. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the extremeupper end of the uppermost combined track and ladder section. Fig. 7 isan enlarged detail in perspective of the travel ing car showing clearlythe attachment of the auxiliary ladder thereto. Fig. 8 is an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of the adjustable truck side braces, on theline 0ca: of Fig. 1. v v

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

A represents a truck frame mounted and carried on the end wheels B, saidtruck being adapted to be transported from place to place, and isdesigned to carry the various fire escape appurtenances hereinafter moreparticularly referred to, and as set forth in my pending applicationabove referred to. In case the truck is put in use on a hill or uponunlevel ground I employ the leveler C, which is adapted to be placedunder the wheels of the truck which are in the lowest position, so thatthe entire truck can be placed level or in a horizontal position to holdthe apparatus level while in use.

p In order to determine when the truck has been set in a perfectly levelposition, I employ the hanging indicator finger or arm D.

The hanging indicator finger or arm D, is

pivoted at its upper end at d, to the truck side brace arms 6, are openat their under sides and are provided at their inner ends with theupturned stops e, to limit their outward extension, and at their outerextremities with the downturned stop ends ei'which stop ends aredesigned to embrace and limit the extension of the folding brace legs E.The folding brace legs E, are pivoted at one end at the outer ends ofthe hollow arms 6, and when not in use are adapted to be folded up intosaid brace arms so that they can be slid together with such brace armsback into the transverse guide boxes E, out of the way, as clearlyindicated in the drawings. When the extensible side brace arms e, areextended out from either side of the truck as the case may be, for use,the folding legs E, arev dropped into a vertical position, bearingagainst the stops a and are held in such p0-v sition andprevented fromfolding back, by means of the drop lock platese working loosely in theupwardly extended guides c and adapted to drop behind the pivoted endsof the brace legs E. The folding brace legs E, are provided at theirunpivoted ends with the threaded openings e into which are ad- Justablymounted the threaded feet a, adapted to rest on the ground, and beadjusted, so that the truck can be leveled from the side as well as atthe ends, while at the same time acting in the capacity of side bracesto prevent any side tilting of the truck when in use.

Arranged within the truck A, is the revoluble standard frame G, in whichis mounted the vertically adjustable frame g, which frames areconstructed and operated in the same manner as described and claimed inmy previous application, and the revoluble frame carries the sameoperating devices for manipplating the entire apparatus as fully setforth 1n such application, and, forming no part of the presentinvention, will not be further described nor referred to.

Fixedly mounted on the upper extremity of the vertically adjustableframe g, is the hinge or pivot plate H, to one end of which is pivotedat h, the pivoted combined track and ladder section I. The track sectionI, is of the same general construction as that described by me in myformer application, but in the present invention it is further providedwith a regularly spaced series of ladder rounds 2', connecting the railsof the track, so that the apparatus will be available for ladder use aswell as for accommodating a traveling car, and adapted to telescope withand be extended from the pivoted combined track and ladder section I,are the ground section J, and the outer telescoping extension sec tionsJ. By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the severalnesting and extensible combined ladder and track sections are to beextended and collapsed in identically the same manner as described by mein my previous application, and the sections other than the pivotedsection are also provided with the regularly spaced series of ladderrounds j, which connect the rails of the track in order to complete anextension ladder, as well as an extension track device, the advantage ofwhich combination will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.After the ground and the outer track sections have been extended fromthe pivoted section I, the same are locked in their extended positionsby means of the pivoted U-shaped catches K. The pivoted U shaped catchesK, are pivoted to one extremity of each of the sections which areextended from the pivoted section I, and are adapted to be turned overto embrace the last aligned ladder rounds when the extensions have beenextended to their limit, although it will be apparent that the saidcatches can be turned to embrace any intermediate ladder round so as tolock the extension track and ladder sections in any extended position,whether they be extended to their full limit or only partly so. Thefeatures just described complete the generalimprovement upon thecombined track and ladder, but the outermost extension section, haspivoted to the outer or top extremity thereof the hook plate L. The hookplate L, is pivoted only at one edge Z, to the outermost extensionsection and is provided at its opposite ends with the guide eyes 1, inwhich is mounted for sliding adjustment the U-shaped window hook M. TheU-shaped window hook M, is provided with hook extremities m, that areadapted to be hooked onto a window sill, or other convenient object on abuilding, when the extension sections have been shot up to suchbuilding, and by reason of the pivot of the plate L, and the slidingadjustment of the book itself, the same can be readily adapted to beplaced in engagement with the object, no matter what the angle of thecombined track and ladder sections may be. It will be apparent that thewindow hook M, relieves the upper end of the outermost extensionsection, from the pulling strain of the escape car which is adapted totravel over the track.

The hinge or pivot plate H, to which the track section I, is pivoted, isadapted to have the position as the corresponding plate shown in myformer application, and in the present invention is provided at itsopposite sides with the tubular guides N, in which are horizontallyadjustable the opposite arms of the laterally extensible U shaped braceframe a, which frame it, comprises opposite parallel arms connected attheir outer extremities by the end bar at, and said horizontallyadjustable frame is held stationary in anylaterally adjusted position bymeans of the set screw n working through a threaded opening n at oneside of one of the tubular guides N, and onto one arm of said braceframe a. The adjustment of the brace frame '11, out from the verticallyadjustable frame g, depends on the incline or angle at which thecombined track and ladder sections are extended, and to the outer end ofsaid brace frame is attached the off-standing clamp 0, having at one endthe eye 0, and at its other end the swinging locking clamp hook 0,adapted to be removably placed into engagement with the opposite eye, soas to removably clamp in position at the outer end of the frame a, thesectional brace ladder P.

The sectional brace ladder P, comprises the ground section 19, adaptedto have its lower end rest on the ground at one side of the truck andprovided with opposite flanged sides p,in which is nested an extensiblesection 19 which is designed to be extended from said ground section soas to meet the main combined track and ladder section at a point aboveits pivot to provide for a rigid and firm bracing thereof, which isrendered necessary owing to the great heights to which the said combinedtrack and ladder sections can be extended. In order to extend.the-extension section p from the ground section p, I employ theoperating rope Q, attached at one end to the lower end of said extensionsection and passing over a suitably arranged pulley g, at the upper endof the stationary ground section, so that by pulling down on one port1onof said rope the said extension section will be extended until it isplaced in engagement with the main track and ladder section, and is heldfirmly in such position by wrapping the wire on a suitably arranged stayhook q, attached to the ground section 1o. The operating rope is furtherprovided with a supplemental portion 1 attached to the lower end of theextension section so that such extension section may be pulled backwithin the ground section.

The sections of the upright ladder brace P, are provided with the usualladder rounds so that the same is available for use as a ladder to reachthe upper end of the main track and ladder section, or intermediatepoints of the building, and as clearly shown in the drawings, the upperextremity of the extension section p is provided with the engagementhooks R, that are adapted to engage any of the ladder rounds of theupper extension sections of the main track and ladder, according to anyheight to which the same may be extended, inasmuch as the brace laddermay itself be disposed at an incline and extended to any height.

Although I have shown and described the brace ladder as provided withonly one extension section 19 nevertheless, it will be apparent thatseveral of such extensions may be employed, without departing from thespirit of the improvement, and, in'eit'ner case, the brace ladder, whenthe truck appurtenances are to be folded out of operative position fortransportation, can be readily detached from the clamp O, and suitablyhung onto the ladder truck as will be easily understood. It may beobserved at this point before leaving this feature of the improvement,that the disposition of the brace ladder at one side of the truckopposite the side at which the main track and ladder sections areplaced, provides a firm brace and support for said main track and laddersections so as to hold the same rigid and firm in their extendedpositions, thus rendering the appara tus efficient for ladder purposesandvas a water tower, as well as for accommodating the escape car S.

The escape car S, is designed to travel up and down the combined trackand ladder section in the same manner as fully described in my formerapplication, and in the presentinvention the car S, is provided with thefront ladder rest 8, having the hinge eyes 8', which are adapted toremovably receive the hinge or pivot pin T. The removable hinge or pivotpin T, is also adapted to removably pass through the lower perforatedends of the auxiliary ladder U, which rests on the ladder rest 8, and isadapted to be carried up by the car S. The lower perforated ends of theauxiliary ladder U, are aligned withthe eyes 3, Y on the car, so as toreceive the pin T, which provides a hinge or pivot forthe auxiliaryladder, and said pin is provided at one' end with the right angularlydisposed portion 20,

adapted to be thrown in engagement with the lock eye to, at one side ofthe car, so that the pin will be prevented from working loose. Byreleasing the lock end of the pin from its lock eye, the same can bewithdrawn to remove the auxiliary ladder, and while the said pin is inposition, the ladder can be swung out eyes i), at opposite inner sidesof the car near its top, said yoke being provided at its innerextremities with stop hooks c, which prevent its entire withdrawal fromthe eyes 0, as will be readily apparent. This attachment of theauxiliary ladder U, to the traveling escape car, not only provides for asecure connection thereof to the car, but also secures a convenient andsafe adjustment of said ladder, as may be necessary in certain buildingsto reach points above the extreme upper limit of the main track andladder of the apparatus. 'When the truck is leveled on a hill or unevenground as clearly indicated in Fig.1 of the drawings, it is of coursenecessary to have the lower ends of the combined track and ladder, aswell as the brace ladder, leveled, so that there will be no unevennessesof any part of the apparatus, and to secure this result, I employadjustable feet W, threaded in the lower extremities of such combinedtrack and ladder and the brace ladder, to correspond'withthe adjustablefeet a", in one end of the brace legs E, as clearly indicated in thedrawings.

Changes in the form, proportion and'the minor details of construction asembraced within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted towithout departing from the principle or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire truck, the combination with the truck; of an adjustablesupport arranged on the truck, an extensible combined track and ladder,an extensible ladder brace arranged at one side of the truck andremovably connected at one side to said support and removably at itsupper end with the combined track and ladder, and the car moving overthe track, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire truck, the combination with the truck; of a revoluble andvertically adjustable frame arranged on the truck, anextensible combinedtrackand ladder pivotally mounted on the upper end of said frame, looking devices for each track and ladder section,

and the car for the track, substantially as set forth. 1

3. In a fire escape truck, the combination of an extensible track andladder pivotally supported on the truck, a self adjusting hook platepivoted at one edge to the top extremity of the outermost section andprovided at opposite ends with guide eyes, and a single U- shaped hookframe arranged to slide in said guide eyes, on the plate and providedwith hook extremities, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fire escape truck, the combination with an adjustable support;of an extensible combined track. and ladder pivoted to said support, alaterally adjustable brace frame mounted on said support, and anextensible ladder brace removably attached to said frame and adapted toconnect at its upper end to the combined track and ladder, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a fire escape truck the combination with an adjustable frame; ofan extensible combined track and ladder pivoted to the top of saidframe, a laterally adjustable brace frame mounted at the top of saidadjustable frame, a clamp arranged at the outer end of said laterallyadjustable brace frame, and an extensible ladder brace removably clampedin position by said clamp and having at its upper extremity hooksadapted to engage a ladder round of said combined track and ladder,substantially as set forth.

6. In a fire escape truck, the combination with a revoluble andvertically adjustable frame; of a hinge or pivot plate attached to theupper end of said frame and having opposite guides, an extensiblecombined track and ladder pivoted to one end of said hinge or pivotplate, a lateral lyadj ustable U shaped brace frame mounted foradjustment in said guides, a clamp arranged at the outer end of saidlaterally adjustable brace frame, an extensible ladder brace removablyclamped in position by the brace frame by said clamp and having at itsupper extremity hooks adapted to engage a ladder round of said combinedtrack and ladder, and the escape car, substantially as set forth.

7. In a fire escape truck, the combination with an adjustable frame; ofa hinge or pivot plate attached to the top of said frame and provided atits opposite sides with tubular guides, an extensible combined track andladder pivoted to one end of said plate, a laterally adjustable U-shapedbrace frame having its opposite arms adj ustably mounted in the tubularguides of said hinge or pivot plate, a clamp attached to the outer endof said laterally adjustable brace frame, and an upright extensibleladder brace removably clamped to the outer end of the brace frame bysaid clamp and having hooks at its upper extremity to engage a ladderround of said combined track and ladder, and the escape car,substantially as set forth.

8. In a fire escape truck, the combination with an adjustable supportand an extensible track and ladder mounted thereon; of an adjustableclamp device mounted at the top and one side of said support, anadjacent extensible ladder brace arranged back of the combined track andladder, and removably held in position by said clamp device whichembraces the same and comprising a ground section, and one or moreextension sections adapted to be nested within and extended from saidground section, the outer extremities of the last extension sect-ionhaving hooks adapted to engage a round of said combined track andladder, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination in a fire truck, of the inclined track, a car adaptedto move over said track and provided at its front side with a ladderrest having hinge eyes, an auxiliary ladder having lower perforated endsresting on said rest and aligned with said hinge eyes, a removable hingeor pivot pin adapted to pass through the aligned ladder ends and hingeeyes, a lock for one end of said pin, and an adjustable yoke mounted onthe car and adapted to embrace the auxiliary ladder, substantially asset forth.

10. The combination in a wheel truck for fire escapes, and a truckleveler adapted to be arranged under one end pair of wheels,of anindicator plate arranged at one side of the truck, and a hangingindicator finger or arm pivoted at its upper end to a suitable point ofattachment and working over said indicator plate, substantially as setforth.

11. A wheel truck for fire escapes having at its opposite extremitiestransverse guide boxes, extensible hollow side brace arms adapted tomove in and be extended from said guide boxes, and folding brace legspivoted to the outer end of said hollow side brace arms, and adapted tobe folded within the latter, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination in a fire escape,of the truck having at its endstransverse guide boxes, extensible hollow side brace arms arranged insaid guide boxes, and folding brace legs pivoted to the outer ends ofsaid side brace arms and provided with adjustable feet, said legs beingadapted to be folded back within the side brace arms, substantially asset forth.

13. The combination of a wheel truck having opposite transverse guideboxes, hollow extensible side brace arms mounted within said guide boxesand having stops at each end, folding brace legs pivoted to the outerends of said hollow arms and adapted when not in use to be folded intosaid brace arms, adjustable feet arranged at the unpivoted ends of saidfolding legs, and a locking device for holding the folded legs in theirextended position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

E. OARDARELLI.

Witnesses:

J H. SIGGERS, H. G. PIERSON.

